Buffaloes enjoy return to practice after rocky offseason

BOULDER, Colo. - The Colorado Buffaloes gathered at the middle of the practice field, hooting and hollering and giving one another high-fives.

A brief meeting with the coach followed, then the team huddled together, let out a cheer and walked away smiling and patting on an other on the back.

After a tumultuous offseason that nearly cost coach Gary Barnett his job and put the program's recruiting practices into question, the Buffaloes returned to practice for the first time Monday.

"It was a good practice, a good, fun, spirited practice as you would expect," Barnett said. "I think everybody is just really happy to get on the field and get back to what we really enjoy doing. And that includes me."

Colorado went through an offseason unlike any other anywhere before.

Nine women claimed they were sexually assaulted by football players or recruits since 1997. Three of those sued the university, claiming they were raped at an off-campus party in 2001.

An investigative panel was formed to determine whether sex and alcohol were used as recruiting tools. Barnett was suspended for three months for insensitive comments he made about former kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was raped by a teammate in 2000.

So instead of concentrating on football, Colorado's players spent the offseason defending themselves, their program and their university. Getting back to the practice field after all of that was a huge relief.

"We were just excited to get out on the field and get our helmets back on," Buffaloes quarterback Joel Klatt said. "It's a great feeling to be out here and we're excited to move forward with camp."

No one was more excited than Barnett.

He spent most of the offseason away from his program and players, devoting most of his time to answering questions from reporters, an investigative panel and a grand jury.

Barnett was suspended in February and didn't get reinstated until after Colorado had completed its spring drills under interim coach Brian Cabral.

So with a whistle around his neck and his trademark visor pulled down low, Barnett was all smiles as he walked off the practice field.